Veterans bring leadership and technical skills that are highly transferable to facilities management, which helps address industry labor shortages. Tapping into the military to help fill this gap has drawn attention from IFMA and other associations, recognizing the unique attributes veterans offer.
Reports from McKinsey & Company indicate that veterans score higher in areas like dependability, discipline, and service orientation—traits that are particularly valuable in the facility management industry.
In this post, we’ll focus on two veterans who have transitioned into facility management and the personal and professional challenges they faced and conquered.
Tim Payne spent 13 years in the Navy Seabees, the Navy's construction branch, before working in home construction and later facilities management for a K-12 school district in Georgia. After retiring from the district, he started his own firm, specializing in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing projects, including work on VA hospitals.
Tim actively seeks to hire veterans for his projects. “I know what it’s like to be a veteran trying to get into the industry,” he says. He pointed out that veterans may struggle to meet civilian job requirements, as their military training does not always come with the certifications HR departments look for, despite their capabilities.
“There’s a disconnect between what veterans come out with and what they’re capable of,” he explained. “It doesn’t necessarily correlate to paper well.”
He encourages veterans to take advantage of programs available on military bases which help them “package” their skills in a way that makes sense for the private sector and urges organizations to build relationships with these bases. Tim himself went to night school to earn his bachelor’s degree and later pursued a master’s degree online.
Marine veteran Matt Blasko saw firsthand how difficult the transition to civilian life could be when his father, a lieutenant commander, struggled to find suitable work after 27 years of service. Eventually, his father found a job writing aircraft maintenance curricula for Northrop Grumman.
After Matt’s service, he spent several years in home construction and later moved into various corporate roles. Today, he serves as the Facilities Director for two leading fashion retailers, managing facility operations across North America. He works closely with field management to ensure that all retail locations are fully functional from a maintenance perspective. Matt also oversees site surveys for new locations and liaises with landlords, vendors, and corporate personnel.
Despite his successes, Matt still wonders how many organizations truly value veterans. “It’s been hard finding jobs and getting accepted,” he said. “It’s been an emotional roller coaster, and I have many friends in similar situations.”
Veterans bring a wealth of experience, discipline, and a strong work ethic to the facilities management industry. Their military background equips them with the skills to tackle complex challenges, lead teams effectively, and continuously seek improvement. Organizations that recognize and leverage these strengths can fill critical labor gaps and make the transition from military to civilian careers smoother for veterans.
In 2023, 42.4% of Gulf War-era II male veterans worked in management, professional, and related occupations, which is higher than the 39.8% of nonveterans in similar roles. This demonstrates the alignment of veteran skills with leadership and facility management positions, according to Hiring Our Heroes and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Collaborating between military programs and civilian industries can create career pathways that allow veterans to thrive and drive innovation in facility management. Programs like Unturning Steel and base transition initiatives can help veterans navigate the civilian workforce, while organizations can benefit from veterans' unique skills and perspectives.
Interested in hearing more stories of veterans that transitioned into FM? The Facility Voices podcast, hosted by David Trask, highlights veterans who have successfully transitioned into facility management, such as Navy veteran Kristian Gonzalez, who shares his expertise in facility security planning.